Fire alarm or signal.



No. 802,266. PATENTBDOGTJN, 1905.

J. A. CHASE. v

FIRE ALARM 0R SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.I6, 1904 v Q Momma JOHN A. CHASE, OF DENVER,COLORADO.

FIRE ALARM OR SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed December 16,1904. Serial No. 237,106.

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. OHAsE, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Denver, State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Fire Alarms or Signals;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fire-alarm or signaling devices;and it consists of an apparatus adapted to be mounted in any room orapartment and provided with a movable part normally held in apredetermined condition by means of a combustible device which when thetemperature of the room reaches a certain degree is burned, whereby themovable device is released and acts to close an electrical circuit inwhich an alarm or signal device of any kind is located, the said alarmor signal being at any desired distance from the circuit-closingapparatus. I prefer to employ a strip of ordinary flexible butcombustible material provided with a coating of some highlycombustiblesubstance adapted to ignite at a less degree of temperature than theflexible strip to which it is applied. By reason of this coating anysuitable material may be employed for holding the circuit-closing devicenormally inactive, and at the same time the said strip may be ignited atthe desired temperature or when the temperature of the room has reacheda point resulting from a fire in the vicinity or a dangerous degree ofheat.

In the specific construction shown the device consists of a suitableframe upon-which is mounted a vertically-movable tube, with which areconnected small weights having a tendency to move the tube to a positionto close an electrical circuit, the said tube being normally held out ofthe circuit-closing position by a strip of flexible material whichpasses above the tube and is freely movable in a loop at the topthereof, said strip being preferably coated with highly-combustiblematerial, as aforesaid. As soon as this strip is burned in two on eitherside of the movable tube the latter will move upwardly to close thecircuit, the flexible device slipping readily through the loop of thetube in case the said device is not burned through on both sides of thetube.

Having briefly outlined my improved con struction, together with thefunction it is intended to perform, I will proceed to describe the samein detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in whichis illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved device with theplate or board to which it is attached, together with the casing of thepush-button, shown in section. Fig. 2 is a section taken through thecenter of the device with the parts in the same position as shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is adetail view of the flexible strip employed, the combustible coatingbeing indicated thereon. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating thecircuit.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a suitable frame whose body portion isUshaped,but

provided with a central post 6, upon which is slidably mounted the tube7, having a loop 8 at its upper extremity, through which a flexibledevice 9 passes, the extremities of said device being secured to theopposite sides of the frame by set-screws 10. By means of these screwsthe device 9 is held taut, whereby the tube 7 is kept at its lowestposition. Connected with the lower portion of this tube 7 on oppositesides are chains 12 or other suitable flexible devices, preferablycomposed of non-combustible material. These chains pass over pulleys 13,suitably mounted on the frame. As shown in the drawings, the pulleys arejournaled on spindles 14, supported by laterally-projecting lugs 15,mounted on the outer arms of the body of the frame. The pulleys arearranged to turn freely on the spindles. At the extremities of thechains 12 remote from those attached to the tube are attached weights 16of sufficient size to cause the tube 7 to move quickly upwardly as soonas the device 9 is severed or burned in two on either side of the loop.Located directly above the loop 8, which is provided with a metal top 8,is a push-button 17, adapted to be acted on by the top 8 of the loop,whereby the contacts 18 and 19 in the electrical circuit are broughttogether, thus closing the circuit through the I 10 instrumentality ofelectrical conductors 20 and 21. It is evident that instead of employingthe push-button 17 the part 8 may act directly to bring the two contacts18 and 19 together, whereby the circuit is closed, though thepush-button construction is probably preferable, since it presents aneat, linished appearance. In the construction shown the part 8? neednotbe of metal or other material adapted to form a good electricalconductor. It is evident, however, that if this part is of metal it maybe employed to close a circuit by bridging the space between twocontacts respectively connected with the circuit-wires.

In the drawings the flexible strip 9 is provided with a coating 22 onboth sides thereof and on both sides of the post 6. This coating isindicated in Fig. 4 by the parallel black lines. The uncoated parts ofthe flexible de vice are shown white, being the central portion, wherethe device passes through the loop and the extremities.

In Fig. 4 the electrical source is indicated by the numeral 23, while abelt 24 and lamp 25 are shown in the circuit, illustrating the alarm orsignal devices. It is evident that any suitable form of signaling devicemay be employed. In Fig. 5 the dotted lines indicate the position of thecircuitcloser 7 when the tape or other flexible device 9 is burned intwo, allowing the loop of the part 7 to move upwardly in response to theweights 16.

The U-shaped frame is connected with a plate 26, composed of anysuitable material, as wood, by means of inclined arms 27, located ateach end of the frame. These arms are connected on opposite sides of theouter portions of the main frame. The push-button casing is attached tothe part 26, and the latter is secured in place on the ceiling of theroom or any other suitable location, whereby it is well exposed in caseof fire. As shown in the drawings, the central portion of the plate 26is provided with an opening, which is covered by the push-button casing26. lWithin this casing are concealed the contacts 18 and 19, while thecircuit-wires 20 and 21. pass through grooves formed in the plate 26.

It is evident that the invention is not limited to the specific form ofconstruction illus trated, except so far as the claims hereinafterpresented contain limitations.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improveddevice will be readily understood. It is evident that this may be usedas a private alarm or signal whereby the occupants of a building arenotilied of the presence of lire in the vicinity of the alarm device, orthe wires from this de vice may extend to a fire-alarm station of thecity, town, or locality in which the building is located, so that when afire occurs the alarm may be sounded at any desired dis tance from thescene of the lire.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a fire alarmor signal device, the combination with a suitable frame, of a tubularcircuit-closer having a tendency to assume the circuit closing position,a post upon which the circuit-closer is slidably mounted and acombustible device normally preventing the circuit-closer from assumingthe said position.

2. The combination with a suitable frame, having a post, atubularcircuitcloser slidably mounted thereon, a flexible combustible devicenormally engaging the circuit-closer to prevent the latter from assumingthe circuitclosing position, the flexible device being provided with ahighly-combustible coating for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a suitable frame, having a post, a tubularcircuit-closer vertically movable thereon and provided at its upperextremity with a loop, a combustible tape passing loosely through saidloop and having its extremities attached to the frame whereby thecircuit-closer is normally held from assuming the circuit-closingposition, and means connected with the circuit-closer and having atendency to cause it to assume the circuit-closing position as soon asit is released by the tape.

4. The combination of a suitable frame, having a vertical post, acircuit-closing de vice slidably mounted thereon, means connected withthe said device for causing it when unresisted to assume thecircuit-closing position, and a combustible device engaging the circuitcloser and normally preventing it from assuming the circuit-closingposition.

5. The combination with a suitable frame having a post mounted thereon,a tubular circuit-closer movably mounted on the post and having a loopat one extremity, means connected with the circuit-closer and having atendency to cause it to assume the circuitclosing position, and acombustible tape passing through said loop and having its extremitiessecured to the frame whereby the tape normally prevents thecircuit-closer from as suming the circuit-closing position.

6. The combination with a suitable frame, of a tubular circuit-closer, apost upon which the circuit closer is slidably mounted, a weightconnected with the circuit-closer and normally having a tendency tocause it to assume the circuit-closing position, and a com bustible tapenormally acting on the circuitcloser to resist the action of the weight.

7. The combination with a suitable frame, of a post centrally located onthe frame, a tubular device slidably mounted on the post, meansconnected with the tubular device and having a tendency to actuate thesame, and a ,tape normally engaging the tubular device to prevent itsmovement, the tape be l vice and having its extremities secured to themg held taut by securing its extremities to frame whereby it normallyprevents a movethe frame, substantially as described. ment of the tubein response to the action of 8. The combination with a suitable framethe weights. [5 5 provided with a post centrally located there- Intestimony whereof I affix my sign ature on, a tlbe oplen at one end andslidably in presence of two Witnesses. mounte 011 t e 0st, its u erextremity i v having a loop, wights conn egted with the JOHN CHASE tubenormally having a tendency to actuate Witnesses:

10 the same, and a combustible flexible device DENA NELSON,

passing through the loop of the tubular de- 1 A. J. OBRIEN.

